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Over the holiday weekend, we did a lot of sitting around. We did other stuff, too. However, lounging was the primary activity. During this time of leisure, I found myself wandering down the Internet rabbit hole to occupy my mind and found an interesting bit of information.

It all started with a Dos Equis commercial that did not include the Most Interesting Man in the World. In fact, it was about the soon-to-be unveiling of the new Most Interesting Man in the World. That is when my mind started wondering. What happened to the old one? Was there a contract dispute? Did he die? Did he stop being interesting?

I did the Google thing and found out that Dos Equis decided that it was time to revamp the advertising campaign. I am not sure that will work, but there are a bunch of highly paid advertising executives who think differently. I also found out something else.

This is another picture of the Most Interesting Man in the World.

Those of you who watch Westerns may recognize him as Tommy, one of the gang that lynched Clint Eastwood in Hang ‘Em High. Clint did not die, and he spends the rest of the movie chasing down everyone who tried to kill him. This includes Bruce Dern, the Skipper from Gilligan’s Island, Ed Begley and Jonathan Goldsmith, the actor who is the Most Interesting Man in the World.

That is not all. I also found out that Jonathan Goldsmith tried to kill John Wayne in The Shootist. As you can see from this clip, that did not go well for him.

What did I learn from my holiday weekend research?

He may be able to speak Russian in French.

He may be able to kill two stones with one bird.

He may have won the lifetime achievement award twice.

However, the Most Interesting Man in the World could not measure up to Clint Eastwood and John Wayne.

The other day, I was flipping through the guide when I saw that Hang ‘Em High was on. As I always do when I see this movie on the guide, I turned to that channel and watched some of it. I do not think it is the greatest Western ever made. In fact, it has a “television set” feel. However, it is still one of my favorites.

As luck would have it, my favorite scene was coming up. It probably sounds morbid, but I really like the part where they are having the multiple hanging in the middle of town. Folks have filled the streets to see the spectacle and the condemned are brought to the platform. As the hangman puts covers over the heads of each man, they are asked if they have any last requests, and one of them says he wants a chaw of tobacco. Then, he spits before that put on the hood.

I have watched that scene a ton of times, but, this time, I decided to find out who wanted the tobacco. He is one of those character actors that you see in a lot of stuff, but I did not know who he was. It turns out that it was James Westerfield, and he was born in Nashville.

He was a guest star in a bunch of television shows and acted in a lot of movies. In his honor, I decided to see what wisdom can be found in his films.

From The Pride of the Yankees

All the arguing in the world can’t change the decision of the umpire.

People have to live their own lives. Nobody can live it for you.

From On the Waterfront

Do it to him before he does it to you.

Conscience… that stuff can drive you nuts!

Some people think the Crucifixion only took place on Calvary. Well, they better wise up!

Some people just have a face that sticks in your mind.

From The Shaggy Dog

Frankly, I think that dogs don’t like mailmen because… well, because sometimes they bring bad news.

There is nothing wrong with girls; they’re character building.

From The Absent-Minded Professor

There’s nothing in the rule book that says one team can’t jump higher than the other.